Treatment of wood separators



Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

CAMPBELL C. CARPENTER, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, YORK.

OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW TREATMENT or woon SEPARATORS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL C. CAR- PENTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have 111- vented new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of lVood Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of wood separators for storage batteries.

An object of the invention is to so treat a wood separator as to get the fibres of the wood in proper colloidal condition so as to more readily absorb and transfer sulphuric acid and so as to more readily diffuse battery acid.

A further object is to so prepare the separator that it will not be readily attacked by battery electrolyte, thereby increasing the separator life.

lVhen the wood of the separator is in proper colloidal condition it has the property of absorbing acid of greater density than that of the electrolyte surrounding it. This increases the conductivity of the separator.

In the process as outlined below, exact proportions and periods of time have been given as representing the best practice so far determined, but it is not intended that the stated proportions and time periods shall be construed as otherwise than illustrating the principles of the process, it being understood that variations in proportions and details of treatment may be resorted to without departing from the principles of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The specific process described is a process used in the treatment of Port Orford cedar, which has been found particularly adaptable in the manufacture of separators, as it contains impurities in relatively small amount.

Application filed June 21, 1923. Serial No. 646,986.

In carrying out the process, separators cut to the proper size are stacked together, preferably standing on edge, and covered with a solution of ammonium hydrate of specific gravity .9, and allowed to stand for a period of approximately 12 hours. The separators are then removed and placed in a tank and covered with water to which has been added approximately one-half of one per cent of lime. They are boiled in this solution for approximately one hour, or until the ammonia has been eliminated. The separators as so treated are found to be specially adapted for storage battery work. It may be found that they are characterized by somewhat lower voltage char acteristics on the first and second discharges, but it has been found that on the third discharge full voltage characteristics are obtained.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The process of treating wood battery separators which comprises treatment with ammonium hydroxide and eliminating the ammonia by treatment with caustic lime.

2. The process of preparing wood sepaarators for use which comprises treating the separators with a solution of ammonium hydrate and thereafter boiling the separators in a lime solution.

3. The process of preparing wood separators for use which comprises treating the separators with a solution of ammonium hydrate of approximately .9 specific gravity and thereafter removing the ammonia by boiling in water containing approximately one-ha1f of one per cent of lime.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CAMPBELL C. CARPENTER. 

